Gun emplacement or fort.



J. T. CAMPBELL;

Patented Aug. 26, 1915i.-

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J. T. CAMPBELL.

GUN EMPLACEMENT 0R FVORT. APPLICATION FILED v.12. ms.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.4

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Gianna J. T. CAMPBELL.

GUN EMPLACEMENT 0R FORT.

APPLICATION mm NOV. :2, ma. 1,314,466. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

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Patented Aug. 26,1919.

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5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- JESSE THOMAS CAMPBELL, 0F ELBRIDGE, TENNESSEE.

GUN EMPLACEMENT OR FORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

Application filed November 12, 1918. Serial No. 262,209.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ESSE THOMAS CAMP- BELL, a citizen of the United Statg, residing at Elbridge, in the county of b State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Gun Emplacement or Fort, of which the following is a specification.

The subject of this invention is a gun emplacement or fort.

The main object of the invention is the provision of means for handling a large number of guns with few attendants.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for firing the guns singly or in unison.

Another .object is the rovision of means for training a number 0 guns in one direction.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means for elevating the guns for high angle firing.

The invention also contemplates generally improving the construction and enhancing the utility of gun emplacements.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Practical structures for carrying out the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an emplacement constructed in accordance w th the invention, a portion shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the device, the dome being in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation, partly in section, of a gun mount;

Fig. 4. 1s a plan view of the same;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view in central, vertical section of a gun mount pedestal' Fig. 6 is a plan view of the firing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing in fragmentary detail the manual means for actuating the gun mount gearing;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of gun mount;

Fig. 9 IS a side elevation of the same;

ion and Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view in longltudinal section of a firing pin and its casing;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a firing device for selective electric firing;

F g. 12 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of the same.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference In carrying out the invention a dome like shell 1 is provided, which is preferably made of armor plate steel, and it may be formed with an outwardly projecting annular flange 2 sltuated at its base. The shell 1 is seated on a base 3 of concrete or the like, and concrete is poured about the shell to a sufiicient height to form a retaining wall 4 which overhes the flange 2 and anchors the shell firmly in place. An observation dome or tower 5 is provided at the top of the shell 1 to permit the operator or attendant to gain a view in all directions.

Spaced eircumferentially of the shell 1 are the alternate gun ports 6 and 7, the ports 7 being of slightly greater depth than the ports 6 so that the guns in the ports 7 may be elevated to a greater angle for the purpose of repelling attacks from air craft. The ports 7 alternate with the ports 6 so that the space through which projectiles might find entrance to the structure may be reduced to a minimum, consistent with the proper operation of the device.

The floor space within the shell is divided, see Fig. 2, into a circular path 8 which permits the attendant free access to the guns for the purpose of loading and the like, and within this circular track is an ammunition space 9. At the center a circular space is provided for the accommodation of t e attendant or attendants operating and firing the guns, as indicated at 10.

Secured to the floor 3 in any usual manner adjacent each port 6 and 7 is a pedestal 11, from the base of which rises an annular flange 12 the upper edge of which forms a track for rollers 13, which support a gunmount 14 and engage in a groove formed annularly of the base thereof. The mount 14 is also journaled in the pedestal 11 at 15 to secure the mount against lateral thrust.

For the purpose of rotating the mount about its vertical axis, and so providing for aiming the gun in various directions, an annular worm wheel or ring 16 is secured to the mount and the teeth of this worm wheel mesh with the threads of a worm 17 which is journaled in a bracket 18, suitably secured to the pedestal 11. An operating rod 19 is provided for rotating the worm, and one end of this rod is universally jointed, as at 20, to the worm shaft, while the opposite end of the rod is journaled in a standard 21, located convenient to the operator, and upon this end of the rod is rigidly afiixed a hand wheel 22 by which the rod may be manually rotated.

Supported in the mount 14 to rock on trunnions 23, which are suitably journaled in the mount, is a cradle 24 inwhich the guns 25 are supported. While only three uns have been shown herein to a cradle it 1s to be understood that the invention is not confined to any particular number of guns to a mount.

Rising from the front end of the cradle 24, and preferably integral therewith, is a lug 26 to which is secured the forward end of the recoil cylinder 27. Rising from the rear end of the cradle 24, and positioned at each side of the recoil cylinder 27, are lugs 28, 28, against which the rear ends of the spring cylinders 29 abut. The spring cylinders are of the usual type and serve to return the guns to battery after the recoil thereof.

The breech ends of the guns 25, which project rearwardly of the cradle 24, are secured together by a yoke 30, from which rises a flange 31, apertured to receive the rear ends of the piston rods of the recoil and sprin cylinders, which rods are secured to tie flange by any suitable means, such as the nuts 32.

In order that the cradle may be rocked upon its trunnions to elevate the guns to desired angles, a segmental rack 33 is secured to and depends from the cradle 24. The teeth of the rack 33 are in mesh with a worm 34, which is suitably journaled in the gun mount 14. The worm 34 has rigidly aflixed thereto a beveled pinion 35, which meshes with a similar pinion secured to the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft 36, which is journaled in a standard 36' secured within the pedestal 11. The axis of the shaft 36 is coincident with the axis of rotation of the mount 14, so that the beveled pinions are in mesh at all positions of the mount. The shaft 36 has a beveled pinion rigidly secured to its lower end which meshes with a like pinion 37, rigid on one end of a shaft 38, the other end of which is connected by a universal joint 39 to an operating rod 40. That end of the rod 40 remote from the joint 39 is journaled in the standard 21, and is provided with a hand wheel 41, by which the rod may be manually rotated.

Provision is made for firing the guns on a mount either singly or in unison, and a practical structure for carrying out this between the supports 42, and these pins serve to limit the movement of the rods through the supports. The forward ends of the rods 43 are formed with eyes in each of which is connected one end of a wire 45, the other end of which is roughened and embedded in a friction priming 46, in the usual manner. These wires may also be connected to other charge exploding or igniting means, if desired. Each rodis provided with an operating handle 45 by means of which the rods may be separately actuated to fire the respective guns.

To provide for operating the rods in unison so that the guns may be fired simultane'ously, a cross bar 47 is slidable on the rods 43 and is apertured so that the rods pass therethrough. This cross bar is positioned between the supports 42 and forwardly of the pins 44. An operating rod 48 is rigidly connected to the cross bar 47 and is slidable through apertures formed in the supports 42, and this rod has a. handle 48 secured to its rear end by which the rod may be actuated. When the rod 48 is drawn rearwardly, it draws the cross bar 47 with it, and the cross bar engages the pins 44 thereby causing the rods 43 to move rearwardly in unison and the guns to be simultaneously fired.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 8,

.9 and 10, the gun mounts comprise a platform 50, which is supported on the flanged rollers 51 adapted to run on the spaced, arcuate tracks 52, which tracks are secured to the flooring. A bracket 53 extends rearwardly from the platform 50, to which it is secured, and in this bracket is journaled a reducing gear train 54, one end member of which train meshes with the teeth of an arcuate rack 55, also secured to the floor at the rear of the track 52. An operating rod or shaft 54 is rigidly connected to that gear wheel of the train 54 situated at the end of the train remote from the end wheel which meshes with the rack, and a hand :wheel may be rigidly connected to this rod for the purpose of rotating the same and thereof. A recoil cylinder 58 is suitably secured on the platform 50, rearwardly of the carriage 57, and the piston rod of this cylinder is connected to the carriage in any suitable manner. Likewise secured on the platform 50, and at each side of the recoil cylinder 58, is a spring cylinder 59, the respective piston rods of which are connected to the carriage 57. These cylinders have the usual action of such mechanism, as hereto fore set forth.

Bookable on trunnions 60, which are suitably journaled in the yoke of the carriage 57, is a cradle 61 in which the small caliber guns 62 are supported. These guns are preferably firmly yoked or' bound together by the cradle, as shown. Each gun is, when to be fired, supplied with a rimer 63, and each gun may be fired sing y by manipu lation of the rods 71, or in unison by the rod 72, as heretofore set forth in relation to the rods 43 and 48.

Then it is desired to fire the guns by means of percussion primers, the device illustrated in Fig. 10 may be made use of. This consists in a casing 64 in the longitudinal bore of which a firing pin 64' is slidably mounted. This pin is normally held in its forward position by means of a compression spring 65. A In .01 pin 66 extends radially from the pin 64 at a position between the ends of the pin 64', and the lug is normally engaged by the upper end of a trigger 67, which is pivotally mounted in the casing 64:. The trigger 67 is formed with a ruler joint 68, and is held in normal position by a retractile spring 69, so that, when the trigger is pulled by the connector or firing device 70, which is threaded through an aperture formed in the casing 64, it will swing upon its pivot and carry the firing pin rearwardly against the tension of the spring 65. \Vhen the firing pin has moved rearwardly a suflicient distance, the trigger 67 will pass the lug 66 and release the firing pin to move rapidly forwardly under the expansive force of the compression spring 65. When pull on the firing device (0 is released, the retractile spring 69 will draw the trigger to normal position, the ruler joint a lowing the upper part of the trigger to click past the lug 66.

To provide means for elevating these guns a T tandard 74 is secured to' and rises from the rear of the platform 50, and is arranged with its cross arm extending longitudinally of the platform. To the forward end of the cross arm of the standard is pivotally connected the lower end of a link 75, while to the rear end of the cross arm is pivotally connected, between its ends, a lever 76, the lower end of which is provided with a hand gri 77 and the upper end of which has pivotal connection with one end of a connecting rod 78, the other end of which rod is pivotally connected to the upper end of the link 75. The link 75 is provided, between its ends, with a laterally extending pin which engages in a slot formed longitudinatly of the rear end of a connecting rod 79, the forward end of which rod has pivotal connection with a crank arm 80, rigidly secured to the cradle 61. The purpose of the slot and pin connection between the rod 79 and the ink 75 is to permit play to allow for the recoil of the guns.

In order that electricaf firing of the guns singly or in unison may be provided for, the structure shown in Figs. 11 and 12 may be provided. Su ports 81 are provided to which are pivota ly secured the ends of a pair of arms 82, which are connected by and formed integral with the cross bar 83. An arm 84 rises from the cross bar 83 and at the upper end of this arm is provided a push button 85. The cross bar 83 is normally held in elevated position by the compression springs 86, which springs should be of considerable tension. Individual push buttons 87 are provided with slots for the reception of the crossbar 83, on which these buttons are mounted for vertical motion independent of the cross bar. Light compression springs 89 are positioned in the slots of these buttons and are confined between the upper ends of the slots and the cross bar to normally hold the buttons in elevated positions. A bridging piece 90 is secured to the lower end of each of these buttons 87, and serves to bridge the terminals of the leads or conductors 91, which normally form an o n circuit between the electric igniter an a suitable source of electric current supply.

It is to be understood that the gun mounts herein shown, while illustrated as mounted on a stationary floor or platform, may be mounted on a suitable rotary or other movable platform, if so desired.

The foregoing description having amply .set forth the operation of the device, a special and extended explanation thereof will not be here given.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. The combination with a stationary dome-like shell having elongated gun ports therein, there being a central space within the shell constituting a control station, of a pedestal within the shell and back of each port, a gun mount arranged for rotation on each pedestal, guns on the mounts and projecting into the ports, means extending into the control station from all the mounts for independently rotating the mounts, means extending into the control station for independently elevating the guns on their mounts, and means extending into the central control station for separately or simultaneously firing the guns.

2. A gun emplacement including a pedesslot in the un mount through which the shaft exten s, and gearing within the gun 15 mount for transmitting motion from the said shaft to the worm engaging the segmental ear.

g In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature 20 in the presence of two witnesses.

JESSE THOMAS CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

SAM Srovnn, H. T. KING.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. e 

